As Coldplay once sung, nobody said it was easy....
Jose Mendoza picked a bad time to unleash his 40 control and Ed Pretty picked a bad time to give up a homer as the Rays dropped a tough 4-3 decision to Houston enabling the Astros to tie up the ALCS at 2. Mendoza kept his control through the regular season (3.2 BB/9) and his ALDS start but today walked 7 in 4 1/3 and was fortunate to allow just the 3 runs. Ken Burgess did a great job extricating the Rays from a 5th inning jam and Chris Williams struck out all 4 Astros he faced, but with the righty power-hitting Danny Rivera due, Pretty came in to gain the platoon advantage but sure enough Rivera took Pretty deed to break a 3-3 tie in the 8th and win it for Houston. Andy Ruggles stayed unconscious with another homer and Seth Williams had a 2-run single but the offense couldn't get anything done against the Astro pen. So we're back to our Game 1 starters with Danny Romero looking to replicate his 7 shutout innings and outduel Elias Gomez once again to give the Rays the advantage.
And speaking of advantages, the Reds are now one win away from their first World Series in 10 years:
